box ears

English

Verb

box ears (third-person singular simple present boxes ears, present participle boxing ears, simple past and past participle boxed ears)

1. (idiomatic) To slap someone on the side of the head, commonly repeatedly on either side.
   • 16th & 17th century Michael Roberts (compiler) The Faber Book of Comic Verse 1942 p.40

     All things have savour, though some very small,
     Nay, a box on the eare hath no smell at all. Anonymous

   • 1890 Donahoe's Magazine. A Monthly Journal Containing tales, biography, episodes in Irish and American history, poetry. . . vol. XXIII p. 136. Boston: Thomas B. Noonan & co.

     Don't Box the Ears. . . Dr. Samuel Sexton. . . has a few wise remarks on the subject of boxing the ears. He has upon his records fifty-one cases in which the ear has been injured by blows of the open hand or fist. . . . Of the entire number, eight were boxed in play, four by school-teachers, two by parents, and one, a fervent lover, by his sweetheart. Several cases occurred among pugilists, and others were due to assaults and brawls. . . In still another, the patient was slapped by his father upon the left ear. Immediate pain and deafness followed, with a bloody discharge from the ear. It was three months before this patient recovered. The dangers to which Dr. Sexton calls attention are so grave that parents, teachers, and others should never punish those committed to their charge by boxing the ears.

   • 1908 Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives of New Zealand. 1908, report of commission Te Oranga Home p.53

     "Was it the Matron's practice to box the girls' ears whilst you were at the Home?"
     "I have seen her do so. She came into the workroom one day when, I think, A— was there. I know it was one of the bigger girls. I took particular notice, because I had never seen anyone using both hands before."
     "You mean in boxing both ears?"
     "Yes, first one hand and then the other"
     "Was that the Matron?"
     "Yes. I did not know anything had happened until presently I heard a noise, and then I walked out of the room." . . .
     "Was it a matter of notoriety amongst the staff that the Matron was in the habit of boxing the girls' ears?"
     "I think the staff all know it."

See also

• box someone's ears